Cyclocross - 30C Cyclo-Cross tires that run narrow?

I am looking to put some cyclo cross tires on my road bike for winter and light dry weather off roading. The bike is designed for road use and thus doesn't really have all the proper clearances for knobby 30C's or 32C anything. Just looking for some decent grip in a thinner tire.

Anyone know of any 30C's that maintain a rather round edge without too many knobs? Otherwise I may have to do with more of a commuting/touring tire like the photo I attached in a 28C.

Any thoughts would be great. Thank you.

Touring tires are your best bet in that size and profile. They are generally 25% to 75% heavier than cross race tires. (~350-600 grams)..

I've seen 30c Schwalbe Racing Ralphs stuffed into an S-works road frame with a cross fork. They cleared the Ultegra rear caliper and chainstays with a mm or 3 to spare. Not sure of the fork clearance, as the rider used a cross fork.

I've seen 30c Schwalbe Racing Ralphs stuffed into an S-works road frame with a cross fork. They cleared the Ultegra rear caliper and chainstays with a mm or 3 to spare. Not sure of the fork clearance, as the rider used a cross fork.


Not the Ralph, the CX Pro HS 269

http://www.schwalbetires.com/node/1396

http://cyclocrossworld.stores.yahoo.net/sccxproli70.html

Thanks for the correction

Thanks for the correction

No Problem :0)

I friend of mine put a cross fork on his Langster and raced it Fixed with a road tire on back. I saw your post and went right to Schwalbe's web sight.


This is great info.

Thanks to you, and the OP

Thanks for the ideas everyone. All you can do sometimes is buy, then try!

Vredestein cross tires. They have a good knobby tread and the 700X28's I have measure 27. Also, you can run them at 100-110 psi.

Here, these are some photos of those Schwalbe tires. The wire bead ones run narrower than the folding ones, FYI.

http://flickr.com/photos/shapelike/sets/72157603404736725/

Don't those silver/grey vittorias come in 28? Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Here, these are some photos of those Schwalbe tires. The wire bead ones run narrower than the folding ones, FYI.

http://flickr.com/photos/shapelike/sets/72157603404736725/

Am I mistaken or is that caliper reading just over 25mm for these 30C's? If so this would rock my world. Looks like the 28C Vredestein cross tires the OP suggested are no longer in production. New name, now 30C is the smallest they make in cross. Thanks for the Flicker link...

Hey shapelike, a picture is worth 1,000 words. Thank you.

Am I mistaken or is that caliper reading just over 25mm for these 30C's? If so this would rock my world. Looks like the 28C Vredestein cross tires the OP suggested are no longer in production. New name, now 30C is the smallest they make in cross. Thanks for the Flicker link...

Looks like 27.2mm to me, But I've never read a metric vernier and I left my bifocals at work....

If you can find a set of the Ritchey Speedmax 700x30c tires, they work great and they measure 28mm and weigh about 320g. I bought a slightly used pair for my Trek 1000 road bike and they worked great. I'm not sure if they make these anymore.

Here are two great tires:
Avocet Cross II
Panaracer Pasela

The Avocet has, I think, slightly more burly sidewalls. But the Pasela is a great all-rounder tire, great for gravel roads and that sort of thing.

I was able to get Kenda Kuicks on my old peugeot road bike. They are quite a bit more narrow than SpeedMax which did not fit.

http://biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=KEKWI

the vittoria tigre cross was available in 700x27c, if you could find them now.

- Vredestein Premiato, 700x30C, real 26,5mm

great tire

Kenda Kwick's are 700x30C, but real thin, and not super knobby.